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Sugar plums, angry mice, and toy soldiers are some of the most memorable parts of “The Nutcracker” ballet. If you haven’t seen this holiday masterpiece yet, you can witness some of the magical plot in Disney’s new movie, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, on the big screen this weekend.

Even though the movie does have some differences from the ballet, they both tell the tale of Clara, a young girl who’s transported to a fantasy world on Christmas night, where she has to battle evil influences. In this parallel universe, she encounters characters along the way that help her save the kingdom.

Before you watch the new nutcracker flick, read up on our top interesting facts about “The Nutcracker.” From its first performance to The Land of Sweets, you’ll be caught up on the famous ballet’s history, plot, and culture.

Russian Roots

“The Nutcracker” is more than 100-years-old and had its start in Russia. According to the Moscow Ballet, the first performance of “The Nutcracker” was held at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on Dec. 6, 1892. It is said that Marius Petipa, who was dubbed “the father of Russian Ballet,” helped with the original choreography of the debut performance.

Marie vs. Clara Dilemma

Clara and the Prince in ‘The Nutcracker’ (Photo Credit: bellinijuniorballet/Instagram)

“The Nutcracker” Ballet is roughly based on two separate stories. In E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and The Mouse King, Marie is the heroine’s name, and not Clara. Meanwhile, Alexandre Dumas’ The Nutcracker, which had a similar plot, dubbed the leading lady’s name as Clara. Clara won the naming contest, and that’s been the name of “The Nutcracker’s” main protagonist since, according to Jack Anderson, author of The Nutcracker Ballet.

Famous Music Score

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a Russian composer, created “The Nutcracker” ballet’s score. But, it wasn’t love at first sight. Research by Geoff Kuenning, a Harvey Mudd College professor, indicated that the composer wasn’t digging the story plot. Tchaikovsky said it was “infinitely poorer” than “The Sleeping Beauty” ballet. Nevertheless, Tchaikovsky’s belittled work would be come a dance hit years later.

Magical Costumes

A ballet can have the best dancers, but the costumes and scenery are just as important in the equation. For years, “The Nutcracker” has delighted fans with some of the most gorgeous tutus and sets around. Famous characters, like the Winter Snows and the Sugar Plum Fairy, came to life through one man: Ivan Vscvolozhsky. According to the book, Ballet Music: A Handbook by Matthew Naughtin, Vscvolozhsky designed the costumes for the famous ballet in 1892. You can thank him for “The Nutcracker’s” holiday-meets-sweets appeal.

Dance Legacy

“The Nutcracker” is an old fairytale-like story, but it lives on in the ballet world today. Many major dance hubs have produced their own variations of “The Nutcracker” for decades. The New York City Ballet typically presents 47 (yes, 47) performances of “The Nutcracker” ballet each year. In a time of modern technology, people are still headed to theaters to see this masterpiece come to life, which lets them engage in a story about a young girl’s magical encounters on Christmas night.